Hometeam Division 2 football: Fitchburg hopes to start turnaround

Friday

Sep 27, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Tom Flanagan Division 2 football

The Fitchburg High football team has annually taken on the personality of its hard-working, blue-collar city, so there should have been little doubt the Red Raiders would get up off the mat after taking a solid punch last year.

After struggling through a 1-10 season last year, the first for coach Dan Walker, many assumed the Fitchburg rebuilding project would still be in its infancy this fall, but the Red Raiders have two ingredients that have helped speed up the process — a strong offensive line and health.

"We think that we have the best line in Central Mass.," said Walker, whose team lost to Shepherd Hill Regional before picking up a win last weekend against Wachusett Regional. "They may not look the part height-wise, but they're a group of strong, athletic and tough kids, and they've more than held their own so far."

Anchored by 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior captain Hunter Sallila and featuring Bruce Johnson, Jose Marrero, Gaston Pastorino and Leo Ramirez, the line has cleared the way for running backs Julio Gonzalez and Demetrice Williams, who have combined for more than 300 yards rushing. Johnson is the runt of the litter at 225 pounds.

"Last season took us off the map," said Sallila, who isn't yet sure where he'll attend college next year but is certain he'll play football. "We've been taking all that negative energy from last year and using it — we started working out right after last season ended. Our mentality is 'line up, run straight ahead and just pound the football.' "

Last season, Walker played roughly five seniors, and as if inexperience isn't enough of a challenge, consider the injuries the Red Raiders faced.

After the Red Raiders lost last year's starting quarterback, Connor Lemieux, to injury, backup Darius Flowers also went down in Week 3 and didn't return. Flowers is back under center this season.

Gonzalez missed the second half of last year, as did Williams. After busting into the Fitchburg lineup as a freshman two years ago, Nik Myles missed his entire sophomore season a year ago. This year, Myles is healthy and had a three-interception game against Wachusett.

"Just having all those guys back healthy and being able to practice the right way with our full team has made a big difference," Sallila said.

"Having everyone back healthy has been big for us," Walker said. "The kids have worked hard for the last year, and we're not playing as many younger kids as we did a year ago. The injuries last year were tough, but it helped to get some kids experience that has helped out this year."

Walker, who was an assistant at Fitchburg for six seasons before becoming the head coach, hasn't been shy about indoctrinating his players into the history of football in Fitchburg, and has instilled in them the importance of getting the program back in the mix with the best of the area.

"We talk to the kids all the time about the legacy of Fitchburg football, and about playing the game the right way," he said. "These kids are driven by what happened last year, and they are working hard to earn respect."

The Red Raiders have perhaps their toughest test to date Saturday when they travel to St. John's High.

"I think people thought we were just going to have another down year and didn't expect anything out of us," Sallila said. "We've all worked hard and we're starting to turn some heads, and that's what we want to do for the school and for our city."

Colonials set for another test

Shrewsbury High, ranked No. 8 in the Hometeam media poll, will have an extra day's wait to attempt to get back on the winning side after last weekend's loss to No. 3 Nashoba Regional.

The road doesn't get much easier for the 1-1 Colonials, as they travel to St. Peter-Marian High at 2 p.m. tomorrow to take on the seventh-ranked Guardians (2-0).

"We have to be ready to go every week with our schedule," said Shrewsbury coach Terry Walles, whose team opened the year with a win over Algonquin Regional. "(St. Peter-Marian) will be a huge test for us. They've got some outstanding skill position players, and their two wins have come against some quality programs (Wachusett and Grafton)."

Shrewsbury has been led by senior Nick Diliberto, who was a threat last year playing both tailback and fullback and has blossomed this fall as a workhorse tailback.

"We've been blessed with some really good running backs over the years, and Nick is certainly right up there with the best," Walles said of Diliberto. who has more than 300 yards rushing and three TDs. "He's a kid who gets stronger as the game goes on so we'll depend a lot on him."

The Colonials and Guardians haven't played since 2008.

"There's a lot of excitement around the game, given the proximity of the schools and a lot of the kids know each other," Walles said. "Plus, (SPM coach) Tommy Henrickson is a Shrewsbury graduate, and I know it will be special for him to face his old school."

Wachusett Regional is in search of its first win, and will have its hands full when it hosts No. 3 Nashoba Regional tonight.

The Chieftains are riding a 28-game win streak.

Wachusett will be led by senior quarterback Matt Maypother, who received off-field recognition last week when he was selected as a Spirit of Courtney Butcher award winner by the Butcher Family Foundation at the Courtney Butcher Golf Tournament.